Lawrence and Sally Cohen Science Center

Science has a new home at Wilkes University.

The $35 million Cohen Science Center brings four floors of state-of-the-art laboratories
that encourage even more interdisciplinary research and study. It houses the departments
of Biology and Health Sciences, Chemistry and Biochemistry, and Environmental Engineering
and Earth Sciences.

Built to LEED silver standards for environmental sustainability (certification pending),
“green” features include large, energy-saving windows that allow plenty of natural
light, energy-efficient lighting controlled by motion detectors, and low-maintenance
polished concrete floors. The rooftop sports an area covered with vegetation to reduce
stormwater runoff, and a greenhouse/wet lab-kitchen. Plus it boasts spectacular views
of the neighboring Susquehanna River and mountain-valley landscape. Students can monitor
building performance for energy and water use, making it a living laboratory for teaching
sustainability.

Departments moved into their new facilities over the summer of 2013. “Just seeing
students working together on a collaborative basis in their new labs is the most memorable
event for me over this whole academic year,” says Dale Bruns, dean of the College
of Science and Engineering. “Their eagerness to work in the new laboratories – with
modular space for equipment, computers and software applications – is very contagious.”
He notes that most Wilkes students – even non-science majors – will likely take at
least one science course with a lab in Cohen.